Kenneth Darby

Last updated

Kenneth Darby
Kenneth Darby.JPG
Darby at a game in Buffalo in November 2010
No. 33, 34
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1982-12-26) December 26, 1982 (age 41)
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: Huntsville (AL) Butler
College: Alabama
NFL draft: 2007  / Round: 7 / Pick: 246
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:408
Rushing average:4.3
Rushing touchdowns:2
Receptions:49
Receiving yards:356
Receiving touchdowns:1
Player stats at PFR

Kenneth Darby (born December 26, 1982) is a former American football running back. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft. Darby was also a member of the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams. He played college football at Alabama.

Contents

Early life

Darby attended S. R. Butler High School in Huntsville, Alabama. [1] He rushed for 4,674 yards during his prep career and amassed 1,591 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, when he also had 2,367 all-purpose yards and scored 24 times. As an outside linebacker, he recorded 77 tackles his final campaign, giving him 281 tackles in his career.

College career

Darby played his college ball at the University of Alabama. In 2002, he redshirted as a freshman. He first saw action his freshman year in 2003 under former coach Mike Shula. He played sparingly behind former running backs Shaud Williams and Ray Hudson. He had 185 yards on 34 carries (5.4 avg.) and also caught three passes in the 10 games he played (one start).

With the graduation of Shaud Williams and starter Ray Hudson falling to injury, Darby saw extensive action in 2004. Taking over the starting running back job five games into the season, Darby rushed for over 1,100 yards. Due an injury at the end of the season, Darby was unable to play in the Music City Bowl. The Tide finished with a 6–6 record. Darby was a Second-team All-SEC selection after playing 12 games with five starts. He logged 219 carries for 1,062 yards (4.8 avg.) and a career-high eight touchdowns and had 15 receptions for 74 yards (4.9 avg.) and one score.

Darby entered 2005 as a preseason All-SEC player and finished the season as one of the top running backs in the SEC. That year, the Crimson Tide finished 10-2 with a victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl Classic. He was a First-team All-SEC after starting all 12 games, with 239 carries for a career-high 1,242 yards (5.2 avg.) and three touchdowns and had 29 catches for 132 yards (4.6 avg.).

Darby entered his senior season needing just over 1,000 yards rushing to surpass Shaun Alexander as Alabama's career rushing leader. He rushed for over 800 yards and finished the season without a rushing touchdown. The Crimson Tide finished 6-6 with a loss to Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl. In 2006 Darby was a Second-team All-SEC selection by The NFL Draft Report. He started all 13 games carrying 210 times for 835 yards (4.0 avg.) and caught 23 passes for 130 yards (5.7 avg.) and one score. After the season, Darby was selected to play in the Senior Bowl.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+3⁄8 in
(1.79 m)		211 lb
(96 kg)		30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		9 in
(0.23 m)		4.61 s1.58 s2.65 s4.38 s6.99 s30.0 in
(0.76 m)		9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		19 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day. [2] [3]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Darby takes the handoff from Rams quarterback Marc Bulger during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on November 16. Handoff to Kenneth Darby at Rams at 49ers 11-16-08 2.JPG
Darby takes the handoff from Rams quarterback Marc Bulger during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on November 16.

Darby was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round. [4] He was waived by the Buccaneers during final cuts on August 30, 2008.

Atlanta Falcons

On September 1, 2008, Darby was signed to the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons. He remained there the first six weeks of the season.

St. Louis Rams

Darby was signed to the St. Louis Rams' active roster from the Falcons' practice squad on October 14, 2008, after running back Brian Leonard was placed on injured reserve. Darby was also named the starter for the Rams' week 10 game with Steven Jackson being out for the game. [5] During a game against the San Francisco 49ers, Darby caught a pass and was struck by Umpire Garth DeFelice who was trying to protect himself. [6] Darby ended the 2008 NFL season with 32 carries for 140 yards (4.4 average) and 19 receptions for 183 yards (9.6) average and one touchdown.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Brown</span> American football player (born 1981)

Ronnie G. Brown Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). After graduating from Cartersville High School in Georgia, Brown attended Auburn University to play college football for the Auburn Tigers. He and Cadillac Williams shared carries at running back, while he had 1,008 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2002, 446 yards and five touchdowns in 2003, and 913 yards and eight touchdowns in 2004. Brown finished seventh in school history with 2,707 rushing yards and fifth with 28 rushing touchdowns. He twice earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2002 and 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac Williams</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

Carnell Lamar "Cadillac" Williams is an American football coach and former running back who is the running backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the running backs coach at Auburn University from 2019 to 2023, he also served as their interim head coach in 2022, the first African American to hold the position in Auburn history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Ward</span> American football player (born 1980)

Derrick LaRon Ward is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft and played for the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans. He played college football at Fresno State University and Ottawa University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaud Williams</span> American football player and coach (born 1980)

Shaud Rashae Williams is an American football coach and former running back who is currently head strength and conditioning coordinator at Mississippi State. Originally from Andrews, Texas, Williams played college football and baseball at Texas Tech and Alabama. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2004 and played three seasons with the Bills. From 2009 to 2011, Williams played in the UFL, first for the Florida Tuskers in 2009 and Omaha Nighthawks in 2010 and 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Turner (American football)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Michael Turner is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northern Illinois Huskies, earning second-team All-American honors in 2003. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and also played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons. He was a two-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Falcons.

Sherman Cedric Williams is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys; he was a member of their Super Bowl XXX team that defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1995 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio Jones</span> American football player (born 1989)

Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. He is regarded as one of the greatest receivers of the 2010s.

The 1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League, the 12th playing their home games at Tampa Stadium, and the first under head coach Ray Perkins. It was a year of great change for the Buccaneers. Perkins had only needed three seasons (1979–1981) to build the New York Giants into a playoff team, and it was hoped that he would be able to repeat the feat with the Buccaneers. They improved over their 2–14 record from 1986 and finished 4–11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerious Norwood</span> American gridiron football player (born 1983)

Jerious Montreal Norwood is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and is the school's second all-time leading rusher. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft.

Johnny Lee Davis is a former American football running back who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 to 1987. Davis was a member of the 1981 San Francisco 49ers team that won Super Bowl XVI. He is a graduate of Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Ware</span> American football player (born 1985)

Danny Franklin "DJ" Ware, Jr. is a former American football running back. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peyton Hillis</span> American football player (born 1986)

Peyton Derek Hillis is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL). Hillis attended Conway High School in Conway, Arkansas, and was a highly touted recruit. Hillis attended the University of Arkansas where he was primarily used as a fullback. After being drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Hillis rose to the top of the depth chart as the starting fullback for the Denver Broncos. Due to injuries to the running back corps, he became the starting running back. After spending two years in Denver, Hillis was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2010. In 2011, Hillis won a nationwide vote which put him on the cover of EA Sports' Madden NFL 12 video game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Ingram II</span> American football player (born 1989)

Mark Valentino Ingram II is an American former football running back and current on-air personality for Fox Sports. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, becoming the first Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy after rushing for 1,658 yards in 2009 en route to winning the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Richardson</span> American football player (born 1990)

Trenton Jamond Richardson is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. J. Yeldon</span> American football player (born 1993)

Timothy Antonio "T. J." Yeldon Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Gurley</span> American football player (born 1994)

Todd Jerome Gurley II is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Rams with the 10th overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Fournette</span> American football player (born 1995)

Leonard Joseph Fournette III is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the LSU Tigers, and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calvin Ridley</span> American football player (born 1994)

Calvin Orin Ridley is an American football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was a part of the national championship-winning teams in 2015 and 2017. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Jones II</span> American football player (born 1987)

Ronald Jones II is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the USC Trojans, where he finished his college career with over 3,600 rushing yards over three seasons before being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bo Scarbrough</span> American football player (born 1994)

Bo Scarbrough is a former American football running back. He played college football at Alabama before a four year National Football League (NFL) career, largely for the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. Following his tenure in the NFL, Scarbrough played two seasons in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions, winning back to back USFL Championships. He currently serves as an analyst with “The Bama Standard” podcast on “The Bama Standard Network” YouTube channel (2021-present).

References

  1. ↑ "Butler Rebels". Alabama High School Football Historical Society. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Kenneth Darby Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  3. ↑ "2007 NFL Draft Scout Kenneth Darby College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ "2007 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  5. ↑ With Jackson out, Rams will start Darby vs. Jets
  6. ↑ When officials attack: Umpire lowers the boom on Kenneth Darby
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.